Summer takes root: small steps, big progress!

In last month’s newsletter, we gave you some food for thought about children’s motor development in nature. This month, we continue in this vein, sharing with you some answers based on our observations and experience in the field.

You will also find an overview of recent nature outings with the Boréal des tout-petits and Foyer des tout-petits centres. Finally, you will find an educational game to play with the kids, on the theme of a well-known animal in our region: the black bear!

Happy reading and exploration to all!

Mathieu Lambert
Daycare Forest Project Coordinator – outdoor pedagogical leader,
Carrefour francophone.

Design outdoor spaces to support motor development.

A recurring theme in the outdoor program is that nature can take care of itself. In fact, natural elements such as rocks, fallen tree trunks, mounds, roots and puddles offer children the opportunity to climb, slide, jump and develop their motor skills.

But to ensure that these natural spaces are suitable for all children, it is important first to observe, analyze and prepare the terrain.

What do I mean by this? Simply remove major hazards, such as sharp or rusty garbage, broken glass, or branches and trees threatening to fall.

Cleaning up and lightly marking out a natural area turns it into a playground and learning ground. A tree trunk in the wrong place? It can be moved to make it more accessible and safer. Lots of low branches? They can be pruned to facilitate passage.

The aim is not to turn nature into a landscaped playground, but to make room for free play. And we do this by allowing all children to explore with confidence, without causing harmful changes to our environment.

It is also possible to make simple arrangements to enrich the children’s environment and create landmarks for them, as we have done at Boréal and Scène des tout-petits, for example. You could arrange a few large stones in a circle to create a quiet corner, add a plank between two stumps so that they have a specific space or work on their balance while having fun, or knowingly leave branches and natural materials at the children’s disposal, so that they can build their own spaces.

In these cases, design does not mean creating artificial areas that replace nature, but rather providing a space that supports children’s autonomy, offers them a variety of motor experiences and allows nature to be a teacher in its own right for children.

Encourage balance, coordination and free exploration.

To support children’s motor development, there is no need for specific routes or instructions. You will often find that it is the freedom of movement, the accessibility of nature and the time left to children that make all the difference.

In nature, every element offers an opportunity to experiment. A slope to climb, a branch to step over, a trunk to balance on… All these challenges emerge spontaneously, enabling children to mobilize their bodies, make decisions, assess distances and risks, and develop their self-confidence.

Balance, coordination and overall motor skills are not only developed indoors. On the contrary, irregular terrain, roots, pebbles and slopes offer far richer stimuli than any smooth surface. Expensive equipment is not necessarily necessary; sometimes, the simplest things are the most effective.

That is why, in all our day-care centres that benefit from the outdoor program, we let children explore freely.

Often, all it takes is observation, wonder, playing with them, or adding a few simple design elements, to turn nature outings into memorable moments.

And when children feel supported and have the space to try, to try again, to test their own limits, it is much more than their motor skills that they develop: it is their perseverance, their autonomy, and their natural curiosity.

Know when a child is out of his comfort zone... or does not dare yet.

By observing children in nature, you will notice certain signs that a child is outgrowing his or her comfort zone, or on the contrary, is holding back.

When a child steps out of his or her comfort zone, this can be seen in :

  • a surge of enthusiasm mixed with a slight apprehension: “I’m scared… but I want to try!”,
  • greater concentration, an attentive gaze, all the senses on alert,
  • calls for help or the adult’s gaze, to be reassured and encouraged,
  • and also, great pride after succeeding.

However, stepping out of your comfort zone does not mean going too far. It is important to be alert to signs of fatigue, discouragement or excessive fear. A child who can no longer coordinate his movements, who cries, freezes or repeatedly puts himself in danger has probably crossed a boundary he was not ready to explore that day.

You will also notice that, conversely, some children may tend to stay at a distance, not dare, or lose interest in exploration. This does not mean they ca not do it. They may just need :

  • more time to observe before taking action,
  • an example set by another child or an adult,
  • a quieter space to acclimatize to the environment,
  • or a gentle nudge to dare to take the first step.

The most important thing is to respect each child’s rhythm, while remaining present, available and encouraging. Sometimes, a simple “I’m here if you want to try it” is enough to open up a new field of possibilities.

A small corner for big adventures.

Foyer des tout-petits in Hanmer is equally enthusiastic. Andréanne Thériault, the centre’s supervisor, has launched an outdoor development project, with the idea of offering children a place to hide, climb and discover the plants that surround them.

The children were already out in nature, but this development will give them a place where they can feel at ease and where they can meet up with friends. It is a wonderful initiative, which shows that every centre can, at its own pace, transform a piece of nature into a playground for children.

A game to take you further...

To extend the learning process, here is a little educational game based on an emblematic animal of our forests: the black bear. You can download it, print it out and use it with your children in day-care centres or at home. It is a great way to keep learning while having fun!

I download my booklet

In June, let's enjoy nature!

Thank you to all the educational teams and families who make these nature adventures possible. Thanks to you, our children enjoy enriching experiences that nurture their curiosity, independence and connection with the world around them.

I hope this newsletter has inspired you, given you ideas and encouraged you in your practices. Do not hesitate to share your initiatives, discoveries or questions with us: experiences and questions are invaluable, helping our community to grow from strength to strength.

See you next month for new ideas…

and a new nature challenge!

See you soon, and enjoy the summer ahead,

Mathieu Lambert
Daycare Forest Project Coordinator – outdoor pedagogical leader,
Carrefour francophone.

Le Carrefour francophone souhaite offrir ses remerciements

Nos partenaires de projet : PLAYLearnThink, Collège Boréal, Centre éducatif des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuit et la Pavillon Shkode (Coeur du feu); nos partenaires de recherche : Centre d’innovation sociale pour l’enfant et la famille et notre bailleur de fonds : Emploi et Développement social Canada.